This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
On Friday, November 10, Blue Mountain Elementary School (BMES) held their 8th annual Turkey Trot Fundraiser.
The Blue Mountain Turkey Trot is an event that grades preschool-5th grade get excited about. The students ask friends and family to sponsor them either by a flat donation or per lap. On the big day, the upper grades run laps around the school building and the younger grades circle a track built from traffic cones for 20 minutes.
"It started in 2010, a way to raise money instead of cookie sales or gift wrapping, or it used to be for every kid you have send in $100, buy nothing sell nothing. Then they came up with a way to make a fundraiser that would be fun and get the kids active," says Jolene Lewis, 3rd-grade teacher.
"Because we are a movement focused school, having our biggest fundraiser be something that is movement based is something we are all on board with," says Kelly Dodds, 3rd-grade teacher.
The Blue Mountain Turkey Trot is generally run by the PTO. The funds raised in this event are dedicated to be used to fund paraprofessional staff, field trips, technology, teacher requests, special events, library, and to promote physical fitness.
Every year the PTO hopes to raise around $40,000. This year, they incorporated an online donating system that allows the parents to send out the information to friends and family via email. Donations can then be made online. To date, the school has already raised $26,981 through this online system. The final numbers will be announced on Friday, November 15 at the school assembly.
This year's Turkey Trot Committee inlcuded: Co-chairs Lindsey Reeder and Melissa Neumister, Sponsorship Coordinator Heidi Lawrence, Day-of-Race Coordinator Wyn Schultz, Graphic Organizer Katie Topham, BMES PTO VP of Fundraising Kristy Berger, and Michelle Penergrass. These parents spent over 50 hours each just organizing this event. In addition, many other parents donated their time helping the Turkey Trot Committee run things on Friday.
The committee began doing a theme last year since the Turkey Trot fell on Veteran's Day. The idea was so popular among students and parents that the PTO decided to continue planning themes. This year the theme was "Fall" and the shirts were made in 8 different fall colors.
Each year the committee works to make sure that each child in the school gets a Turkey Trot spirit shirt. It is important to them that the students and teachers wear matching shirts. The shirt colors vary by grade. This is one of the biggest challenges each year for the committee.
The shirts are also the biggest expense of the fundraiser. However, the PTO works hard to get sponsors from the community and those funds cover the shirt costs.
The BMES students, parents, PTO, teachers, and staff would like to thank the following sponsors for their generosity: Oskar Blues, JBSK CPAs, B.Stiff and Sons Old Fashioned Soda Pop, Longmont Dance Theatre Academy, Mertz Family Dentistry, Ripple Effect Martial Arts, Airborne Gymnastics and Dance, Topham Dental Family Care, Anthony's Pizza and Pasta, Longmont Braces, Que's Espresso, Scrumptious, Skazma Custom Apparel, A Pet's Place Animal Hospital, Brown's Shoe Fit Co., and WK Real Estate-Rebecca Weihe.
"I appreciate their support every year. We have a lot of the same or similar sponsors on the back of all of our Turkey Trot shirts and just knowing that they're sponsoring us year after year is so appreciated. Because the shirt is so important to the kids and without the shirt, I don't think we'd have as much engagement. I thank all the sponsors and the people who set it up because it is a big day," Kelly Dodds said, on behalf of the school.
